A lot of people think that animal shelters are brimming with sick, mean, old or "unwanted" dogs. One visit to the Wisconsin Humane Society, and you'll know otherwise. On any given day, you might find purebred lab puppies, litters of fuzzy 8-week-old shepherd mixes, or even winners of obedience training competitions.

Dogs of all breeds, histories and experiences are guests at WHS. People surrender dogs for all sorts of reasons and WHS also receives dogs from states in the South -- often litters of puppies. WHS saves these dogs from euthanasia in states where overpopulation is an epidemic.

Speaking of puppies, you've probably spotted the little guy in the photos above. This is Taz, a 10-week-old pitbull terrier. He's adorable, replete with wrinkles around his face and precious expressions. Taz has plenty of energy and needs a guardian willing to put in the time to train, nurture and raise a puppy. He will be a delight to take to new places, to introduce to people and other animals and to raise in a positive, loving environment.

If you are looking forward to bringing a puppy into your life, check out WHS' Web site first. You might be surprised to find a page full of puppies! Check early and often. The site is updated every 30 minutes and the best time to come in to adopt is on a weekday at 10 a.m., when the shelter first opens.

If you're looking for a fun time with a sweet dog, Boundy might be a
solid match. If you have a garage full of tennis balls, you two might
just be soul mates!

Boundy isn't a hard dog to keep happy and entertained. This fun-loving dog has a deep appreciation for the wondrous tennis ball. He likes to catch it, toss it in the air, chase it under chairs, tease you with it, proudly carry it on walks and sleep with it safely tucked under his chin. He doesn't have a preference for a particular brand, but he does seem partial to lime-green.

Boundy is also a top dog model. He has several difference expressions and poses to best showcase his perky ears and interesting brown and white markings. He is fit and trim -- perhaps thanks to his tennis ball workouts. Boundy is 7 years old, yet has the energy of a puppy. His manners, however, are much more mature.

Boundy would likely do best with a guardian who has a good throw and many empty pages in a photo album waiting to be filled with the joyous images of a new best friend. He'll laugh with you at parties, cry with you when the Packers lose, and keep you company during bad storms. He might even be game for a complex Halloween costume ... perhaps Roger Federer?

All of the dogs at the Wisconsin Humane Society have been microchipped, vaccinated and sterilized. Each dog also comes with one free month of health insurance. If you're interested in adopting Boundy or any other dogs, visit wihumane.org or call (414) ANIMALS.

Meet Bear. Your life will be better for it. This beautiful, 7-year-old chow chow/border collie mix is a very special dog.

He talks with his eyes. In fact, he "said" to my source at the Wisconsin Humane Society, "You're the greatest thing that ever lived. Will you love me? Please?" My source wishes her house were bigger. (Don't we all? We'd each have about a half dozen pets. For starters.)

Of course, all the dogs at WHS have special and unique qualities, but Bear is really going to bring an unbelievable amount of joy into someone's life.

Spend one hour with Bear and you'll find him to be the calmest, most polite, most attentive and affectionate dog you could possibly imagine. Bear loves to go for car rides, meet new people and make new friends. He is gentle with kids and has even lived with cats! He has a thick coat that will require regular brushing, which he delights in. He takes pride in his handsome coat and eagerly submits to brushing, nail-clipping and grooming.

As his name might indicate, Bear isn't interested in marathon running these days. He would prefer laid-back guardians who will take him on the occasional stroll around town and maybe to the dog park once in a while. He'll also welcome squeaky toys and low-fat treats.

All of the Wisconsin Humane Society's dogs have been microchipped, vaccinated and sterilized. Each dog also comes with one free month of health insurance. Contact us at www.wihumane.org or 414-ANIMALS.

About Velia Tarnoff

Velia Tarnoff counts among the loves of her life her daughter, her husband, her friends, writing, developing theories, dancing, live music, Southern California, black coffee and red wine. She's happiest when she can put as many of those together as possible. With more than 15 years of experience as a radio reporter and public relations professional, Velia is a natural communicator who loves to hear stories, to share stories and to tell it like it is.

Velia earned her B.A. from the UW School of Journalism and is thankful for every moment she spent on that wonderfully wacky campus.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, Velia is the wife of OnMilwaukee.com Publisher Andy Tarnoff.